Title: Frequently Asked Questions: for Network for Computational Nanotechnology
(NCN)
Date: 12/01/11
NSF 12-020
Frequently Asked Questions: for Network for Computational Nanotechnology
(NCN)
A Competition to Reconfigure the NCN ([1]NSF 12-504)
Eligibility and Personnel
1. Does the PI need to be a tenured faculty at the time of
submission, or at the time the proposal is awarded?
At the time of the LOI submission and throughout the review process
and any subsequent award, the PI for the Cyber Platform and the
Nodes must hold an eligible appointment as a tenured faculty member
at the lead university.
2. What happens if the PI leaves or decides to transfer to another
university during the review process or after the award? Can
he/she take the proposal/award to the new university?
No. If the PI of either the Cyber Platform or a Node decides to
transfer to another university during the review process or after
an award is made, the proposal/award remains with the lead
university.
3. Can other personnel listed in the LOI change between submission of
the LOI and submission of the full proposal?
Yes.
4. Can we change the lead university after the full proposal has been
submitted to NSF?
No, once the full proposal has been submitted and the deadline has
passed the lead university cannot change.
5. Can a faculty member from a foreign partner university be a Co-PI
on the NCN?
No, all Co-PIs must be faculty from domestic partner universities.
6. For the LOI submission there is a limit of the PI plus up to four
additional Co-PIs. Is there a Co-PI limit for the full proposal
submission?
Yes, for the full proposal submission you are limited to the PI and
up to four additional Co-PIs, for a total of five. Any additional
Co-PIs will be shown as "Senior Personnel" in the "Key Academic
Participants" section.
NCN Nodes
7. Can a Node deliver scientific code without a graphical user
interface and without a first-time user guide?
A Node must deliver "usable" code with an existing graphical user
interface that utilizes the available user interface infrastructure
from the winning Cyber Platform. "Usable" means, in principle, that
the tool developer would want to integrate and use the code in
their own workflow.
8. Can a Node submission propose all research and deliver one tool at
the end?
No. A Node must deliver a continued, balanced, and steady flow of a
large body of tools and educational content throughout the award
period, not just toward the end of the award period.
9. Are lectures and tutorials and classes considered valued content
items for delivery to the Cyber Platform?
Yes.
Proposal Discussion Guidance
10. Is there a "cut-off" date beyond which the NSF will allow
proposers to discuss the content of their proposals with NSF
staff?
Proposal submission questions are allowed throughout the process;
however, December 1, 2011 is the last day proposers will be able to
talk with NSF staff to discuss the content of their proposals.
Miscellaneous
11. Can we include Letters of Support in our (Cyber Platform or Node)
proposal?
Yes. Letters of Support that substantiate contributions to the
proposal can be included as supplemental documents.
References
1. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf12504